I live in a villa - one of 4 attached houses in a building. A new neighbor moved in next door. I thought - maybe this time it will be someone close to my age with whom I can be friendly. If you want to know anything around here, just ask the cleaning crew. So I got the scoop from the woman who cleans my villa. A single man from New York with 2 cats was moving in. She thought he was in his 60's. Well, I'm not prejudiced; I can be friends with a man as well as a woman. For a week, I've seen his car, but not him. Today, I struck up a conversation with a man at the pool. Turns out, he was the son of my new 75 year old neighbor. He was down from New York for a week to help his father settle in. Then he told me that he was a little concerned about his father - he is intermittently forgetful and confused, and he wanted to know if I knew anything about Alzheimer's Disease!!!!! Arrrrgghh!!!!! Do I have a sign on my forehead that says Alzheimer Magnet???? I very politely filled him in on AD, and a bit about my history with it. So my new neighbor is an elderly man with most likely the beginnings of AD.(Yes, I did tell his son about getting a thorough evaluation by a memory disorder clinic) Will I EVER escape this disease?
Joan, how ironic. Hopefully this son from NY keeps close tabs on the father so that he isn't one of those out of sight out of mind parents who are on their own except when needed for something. Try to stay as uninvolved as possible.
Joan It does seem like we are surrounded by alzheimers. I was watching "Say Yes to the Dress", just a show I thought would be fun and take my mind off of being alone. The first young ladies story was her mom could not be with her because she was late stage Alzheimer's. It did bring attention to the diease. But it brought memories of how hard it was with DH at the girls weddings. Not to mention that DH was now in memory care and this man had his wife home at late stage. watched reruns of another show, and one of the characters was insinuated to have Alzheimers.
I live close to where Joan does. I really think dementia is in the water. Seriously-I think people our ages are much more aware of dementia.It is everywhere.
There are many in my apartment complex (over 55) who should not be living alone. I recognize the signs and like bluedaze, I think it must be in the water! And we are over the top with water this week!
I live in a 55+ Villa apartment which is across the street to assisted living. I think they rent our apartments to people who should not live alone so they hope they will move across the street. My neighbors are all older (87) than I am and they are interesting people. We all have aches and pains but you see a lot of smiling. I love it here but I cannot afford the rent so I am moving 14 miles north to a 55+ apartments where the rent is reasonable. It is a small town of a little over 5,000 people and I know no one. So I'll be starting over making new friends. That is if I survive the move. Send up a few prayers that I will survive this move and will be happy. Of course, I can come back and visit my friends here. If you want to take a look at my new home visit Belle Isle Senior Apartments in Robertsdale, Al. 36567. I will have a 2 bedroom apt. Now, back to the packing and the pain pills because I know the old body was not built for this. Last time I am going to move until the NH.
Nice looking place. It does have high speed internet connection available I see. The brown brick units with little sun porches look pretty good to me. I notice about 14 miles south of Robertsdale is Orange Beach right on the water. What did you used to do, sunbathe on the beach all day?
Bama, I hope this move is good for you and that it goes smoothly. I also hope there is a friend there for you and this is just before the time you meet (I wasn't thinking which sex - I meant a friend). I promise I will be thinking of you and hoping this all goes as easily as it can.
BTW - You're not far from Magnolia Blossom Cafe or from Buddy's Lounge and there's a Pizza Hut that probably delivers.
Same here. It seems everyone I meet has AD, or has a close family member who has AD. My sister asked me if I would ever rent my guest house to an elderly person (it was a general question) and I had to really think about it. I finally said I would prefer not to, just in case the person had or would be likely to get AD. Selfish of me, I know.
You are NOT selfish. Don't ever say that. Anyone who has ever been an AD caregiver, especially a spousal caregiver, has earned the right to keep their distance from AD.
Yes, some give back by volunteering at AD facilities, hospice facilities, facilitating support groups, etc. I support and applaud them for it. But there's no shame or selfishness in wanting AWAY from AD.
My living arrangement is the same as yours. The Assisted Living building is next door, and we have the same situation here. At least 75% of the people who move here to the Independent Villas should not be living alone. They should be in AL, and within 2 years, most of them end up in AL. Out of the 4 villas in my building, I am the ONLY one who is capable of living alone. My neighbor to my right is on chemotherapy, oxygen for COPD, still SMOKES, and his brother comes all of the time to check in on him. The woman to my far left is 90 years old, and so confused she doesn't know who I am (she's lived here for over a year). And now the new neighbor, who probably is in the early stages of AD.
There are reasons why I am unable to move at this time, but explaining that would require a discussion topic all of its own.
Joan/Joni: Everywhere we turn here in So FL I encounters a tale of a spouse, friend or neighbor with AD. Recently I discovered an old directory for my condo dating back to 2000 when DW & I moved here. Reviewing the changes over the last 15 years, out of the 80 units in my bldg. 47 have been affected by AD. This is NOT a 55+ bldg. My home is not near any sort of assisted living facilities, my condo is ocean front in Palm Beach.
It took me a while, but I now have my condo on the market in an attempt avoid memories of nearly a decade of spousal care giving and plan to move in with the new lady in my life. She has a home in a community that is of mixed age and it nice to see the kids playing in the pool.